Town Hall 1967

The Town Hall on Buttermarkt was completed in 1967. Designed by the architect Heinz Cobbers, this modern arcaded building dominates the entire eastern side of the square.

Its predecessor, the old Town Hall with its projecting arcade, once stood on the same site but was finally destroyed in 1945 during two air raids. Built in 1749, the earlier representative building also housed the Stadtwaage (municipal scales), which can still be seen today in the Kramer Museum.

For this reason, it was popularly known as the Alte Waage (old scales). In the early 19th century, the Loerper family ran the prosperous Zur Stadtwage restaurant here. The mayor’s office occupied the upper floor, while the magistrates’ court remained in the building until October 1879.

From 1 July 1938, and until the destruction of the old Town Hall, the city administration moved into the spacious Herfeldt merchant’s house at Engerstraße 48. Thereafter, administrative offices had to be spread across several buildings, including the Villa Horten on Thomasstraße.

After many years of planning, the new Town Hall was inaugurated on 27 May 1967 with a grand ceremony on its historic site. Despite its modern design, it blends harmoniously into the character of the old town.